Vamana Purana — Sukeshi's Inquiry into Dharma, Shloka 45

Sukeshi’s Inquiry into Dharma: The Seven Dvipas and the Twenty-One Hells

Devanagari script

तमापतन्तं सह शम्बरेण समीक्ष्य वह्निः पवनेन सार्धम् शक्त्या मयं शम्बरमेत्य कण्ठे संताड्य जग्राह बलान्महर्षे

Transliteration

tamāpatantaṃ saha śambareṇa samīkṣya vahniḥ pavanena sārdham śaktyā mayaṃ śambarametya kaṇṭhe saṃtāḍya jagrāha balānmaharṣe

Translation

فلما رأى مايا مُندفعًا مع شَمبَرا، تقدّم وَهْني (أغني) مصحوبًا بفايو (الريح)، فضرب مايا وشمبرا في الحلق برمحه (شَكتي) ثم أمسكهما قسرًا، أيها الحكيم العظيم.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• āpatantam: rushing/falling upon
• āpatantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√pat (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative, Singular; qualifying 'tam'

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable preposition (सह-योगे अव्यय) governing Instrumental

• śambareṇa: with Śambara
• śambareṇa: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• samīkṣya: having seen
• samīkṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), अव्यय

• vahniḥ: Fire (Vahni)
• vahniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• pavanena: with the wind
• pavanena: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• sārdham: together
• sārdham: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārdham (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय), ‘together’; often with Instrumental

• śaktyā: with a spear/weapon (śakti)
• śaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• mayam: Maya
• mayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• śambaram: Śambara
• śambaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• etya: having approached
• etya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √i (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा) with irregular form ‘etya’; ‘having gone/approached’

• kaṇṭhe: at/on the neck
• kaṇṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• saṃtāḍya: having struck
• saṃtāḍya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-√tāḍ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having struck’

• jagrāha: seized
• jagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• balāt: by force
• balāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; adverbial ‘by force’

• maharṣe: O great sage
• maharṣe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speakers

• Narrative layer not specified in input (often Purāṇic narration
• commonly Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa
• but not confirmable from provided excerpt alone)

Primary Deities

• Agni
• Vāyu

Key Themes

• Daitya-Deva Conflict
• Divine agency through Devas
• Martial valor

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even formidable adversaries (Maya and Śambara) are checked when cosmic order (dharma) is defended by coordinated divine powers; the verse highlights disciplined force used in service of restoration, not mere violence.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classed under Vaṃśānucarita/Carita-style narrative material (accounts of deeds and conflicts involving divine and daitya figures), rather than sarga/pratisarga proper.

What is the symbolic significance?

Agni with Vāyu signifies purifying heat empowered by moving breath—together representing irresistible transformative energy that immobilizes illusion (Maya) and hostile magic (often associated with Śambara in Purāṇic battle lore).